The Genius in the Design : Bernini, Borromini, and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome

Description

This is the true story of the great rivalry between the 17th century architects, Bernini and Borromini, and how their antagonism changed the city of Rome and created the Baroque. Talented, driven, and ambitious, each man spent his career trying to outdo the other. Each, in his turn, succeeded, only to be brought down by the machinations of the other. One became the most lionized artist of his time and died a rich, happy man. The other, consumed by internal demons, committed suicide. Part history, part biography, "The Genius in the Design" is narrative non-fiction that reads like a novel and brings to vivid life the struggle between two giants of architecture.show more

Review quote

"'Not only a fascinating account of two of the greatest architects in western history, it is also a scintillating introduction to the Baroque' Iain Pears, author of An Instance of the Fingerpost 'The cover of The Genius In The Design compares its two anti-heroes with Mozart and Salieri, but this doesn't do Jake Morrissey's thrilling story justice... Visitors wanting to get a handle on Rome's architecture have hitherto had to pack both Hibbard' Bernini and Anthony Blunt's Borromini. Thanks to Morrissey, they need now weigh their suitcase down with only one book' The Telegraph"show more

About Jake Morrissey

Jake Morrissey has studied and written about architecture for twenty years. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and other publications. He lives in New York.show more